My Baba: Bhagalpur Posting

I came to Bhagalpur as DS in 1972. Bhagalpur has been a leading town in the history of A’nanda ma’rga. It was the home of many senior family a’ca’ryas viz. Pashupatijii, Anantajii, Krsna’nandajii, Gaoriishankarjii and Deviicandajii. All these A’ca’ryas worked hard for the propagation of the ma’rga. I was lucky to get to meet them and to know many of their experiences of Jamalpur days. Being the biggest town of Aunga Desha near Jamalpur, Bhagalpur has been Ba’ba’s Karmabhu’mi. In Bhagalpur Diocess there were 60 active units of the ma’rga. I would travel the year round in these units to meet ma’rgiis and to convey the new programmes given by Ba’ba’. At that time Ba’ba’ was in Bankipur central Jail, Patna. Moving in the units was quite a hard work. Anandapur High school was also located in this diocess. Ba’ba’ had personally contributed to initiate the school project. This place was the attraction of margiis. They used to get their children admitted in this school hostel for studies.

Our school was located on the banks of Ganges near Sundarvati Mahila College. It was good location for sa’dhana’. Being an old margii center it had many opponents. It was considered to be a problem diocess in the organisation. I learnt from keshavanandajii that I was deputed by Ba’ba’ to speed up the margii activities here. It was a very comforting news for me since Ba’ba’ considered me capable of improving the situation here.

In Bankipur jail Ba’ba’ was poisoned by the CBI. In protest Ba’ba’ went on long fast. Margiis and workers were worried about the ill effect of His fast on His weak body. Some of the Sanyasins commited self immolation in protest for His release. Those who took recourse to such acts were great devotees of Ba’ba’. They were Dada Divya’nanda, Dada Dineshvara’nanda, dada Atula’nanda and many others.

In protest of the constant harassment of Ba’ba’ and other margiis in the Jail the margii society turned aggressive. A stream of protest raillies and meetings took place in Delhi and Patna against the state and central government. I participated with hundreds of ma’rgiis in a rally to gherao Bihar state assembly and chief minister’s residence and in Delhi to protest before the Parliament and at the India gate.

Once after the poisoning of Ba’ba’ in Bankipur Jail, we took out a protest rally and gheraoed the residence of the Chief Minister Abdul Gafoor Khan. He ordered police lathi charge on the unarmed workers and the ma’rgiis. Workers and margiis were badly beaten and more than 80 of them got arrested on false charges and jailed in Fulbari Sharif Jail. Interestingly we symbolically established sadvipra sama’ja in the jail and published a daily news letter. Later we were released on bail. The compaign to get the release of Ba’ba’ was accelerated throughout the world. Many workers immolated outside India. This was a period of terrible turmoil in the organization.

When dada Dineshvara’nandajii immolated himself in Old forte of Delhi, thousands of margiis rallied in New Delhi. Dada Dineshvara’nanda jii was my intimate friend. He was a dedicated worker and was bent upon getting Ba’ba’ released. A day before he presented me his bag saying please keep this as my memorabilia, since this may be our last meeting. I took it lightly but comforted him. Next day when I heard of his self immolation, I regretted for not having been serious. The same thing repeated with Dada Atulananda almost the same way. I had no clue. Dadajii was determined to immolate himself. He wanted to highlight the suffering of Ba’ba’ in incarceration perpetrated by an enmical government. Contrary to the Indian government the governments around the world were moved by the sacrifice of these great devotees of Ba’ba’.

About the same time dada Tya’giishvara’nandajii was arrested in a conspiracy in Bhagalpur and was jailed. At the instance of CBI he was subjected to inhuman torture. Ultimately he died in jail. Ba’ba’ was pained at his death. He did mention that Tya’giishvara’nanda’s was brutally tortured. Every part of his body was impaired as a result of the brutalities of the police. I was equally broken on hearing the news of his death. I lost my composure and my own confidence was badly shaken. I haven’t known anyone like him. He was a dedicated but a silent worker. One rarely comes across such a man of extraordinary integrity.

During my posting in Bhagalpur I had desired for a DMC there. But it did not materialize until 1979 until Ba’ba’ was released from Jail. I was sent by Ba’ba’ as the central organizer to Bahgalpur to arrange the DMC programme there. Thus He fulfilled my desire. We received Ba’ba’ with our hearts filled with devotion and love in Madhu Aungika’-Marga Guru Residence.

After Bhagalpur I was posted in Lucknow. Before joining my next posting, I got to meet Him in jail. I was deeply moved seeing the physical condition of Ba’ba’. He caught hold of my hands and raised my spirits. He asked me to keep coming. I wanted see Him released.

In Bhagalpur I had many new experiences. I watched the turmoil in the organization. I continued to receive His grace.